Leading figures of the Manchester property world warned against scrapping High Speed 2 at Estates Gazette’s latest North West Question Time.
Manchester city council chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein said scrapping the scheme would result in “massive economic underperformance”, branding it “nonsense” that the regions would benefit from alternative projects.
His view found consensus on the panel. Liverpool city council former deputy leader Derek Hatton lamented that “if any project in the North failed to happen, not one penny of the money would come to the North for anything else”. He went on to praise Manchester’s ability to take “real decisions” – a strength which he felt had been lacking in Liverpool.
The event, which took place last Thursday in the historic Baronial Hall in Chetham’s School of Music, saw a lively debate as the North West’s movers and shakers fielded questions from the audience.
Also sitting on the panel, chaired by EG editor Damian Wild, were Savills head of commercial research Mat Oakley, Midas chief executive Tim Newns, Bruntwood director of property marketing Colin Sinclair and Mills & Reeve partner Anne Fairhurst.
Topics debated ranged from the region’s transport prospects and skills base to the challenges of running a high-tech regional centre in a low-carbon, low-growth future.
Also voiced were concerns about the prospects for the high street in the region, with Fairhurst calling for a local approach to city centre retail, while Oakley questioned just how far policymakers could persuade shoppers to head back to the high street.
chris.berkin@estatesgazette.com
